Ziegfeld Girl

Released Apr 25, 1941

2 hr. 11 min.

Musical

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Reviews

78%

1,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

During the 1920s, three New York girls pursue careers performing in the iconic Ziegfeld Follies. Susan (Judy Garland) is a vaudeville performer who desires nothing more than a shot at the big time. Sheila (Lana Turner), who works as an elevator girl, is granted an audition with Flo Ziegfeld himself. And Sandra (Hedy Lamarr) draws the eye of a dance director after her husband auditions for a position in the orchestra. However, their career ambitions soon complicate their romantic relationships.

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Steve D

Terrible despite the talent involved.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

01/13/24

Full Review

Irene M

a bit heavy on the morality tale for me, but great to see young actors doing good work.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

10/14/23

Full Review

Matthew D

Hedy Lamarr, Lana Turner, and Judy Garland dazzle in this show business musical drama! Directors Robert Z. Leonard's dramatic direction and Busby Berkeley's musical choreography for their musical drama Ziegfeld Girl (1941) is quite fine. Their elegant direction makes each dramatic scene touching and all the actresses even more endearing. Berkeley ensures each musical passage is shot like a dream sequence with gentle steps and alluring imagery. I'm impressed that I was not bored during Ziegfeld Girl's 132 minute run-time. Editor Blanche Sewell does these soft cuts to grip you during the musical dances and songs. Every cut almost feels like a montage or startling hard cut. Cinematographers Joseph Ruttenberg and Ray June use sweeping panning shots and captivating close-ups of the actresses to make you fall in love. Ziegfeld Girl is surprisingly modern like a new version of A Star Is Born with Janet Gaynor. Ziegfeld Girls basically walked up and down stairs in lavish outfits, but you can see the appeal. Writers Marguerite Roberts, Sonya Levien, and William Anthony McGuire craft a moving story of three women hoping for stardom, money, fame, and to be a Ziegfeld Girl. It's fascinating how distinct each woman feels and their very feminist motivations. One wants fame at any price, even selling herself to a wealthy man until she's an alcoholic. One is a sweet girl who has to grow up and ditch her old fashioned, but loving father. One has to choose the man she loves, so that she will not be a homewrecker. Ziegfeld Girl wants the characters to be happy with the person who can be kind, but also leans into the darker realism of Hedy Lamarr is the most drop dead gorgeous actress who ever lived as Sandra Kolter. She loves Philip Dorn's possessive and jealous violinist Franz Kolter. There is not a more impressive image than Hedy dressed up in stars during the first staircase walk down scene. She's moving as a woman just wanting to earn money and be with the man she loves. Tony Martin has a beautiful and powerful singing voice as the sleazy womanizer Frank Merton. Lana Turner is splendid as the alcoholic lush Sheila Regan, who sleeps around for fame until her ruination. James Stewart is young, mean, and gruff as the disgruntled truck driver Gilbert Young, who joins the mob to win enough money to impress Lana Turner. It's surprising to see Stewart play a real possessive jerk. Ian Hunter is surprisingly nice as the rich gentleman Geoffrey Collis interested in Lana Turner. You can tell he just desires her and not the woman she is though. Judy Garland is sweet as a button with soaring vocals and impressive dancing as the younger Ziegfeld Girl Susan Gallagher. She's so talented and charismatic even for such a young actress. She really cares. Charles Winninger is heartbreaking too as her protective, but pushy Pop Gallagher. Edward Everett Horton is fairly nice as the talent scout Noble Sage. Whereas, Paul Kelly's John Slayton is truly cruel and conniving as the talent manager. Fay Holden is nice in her brief appearance as Mrs. Regan. Jackie Cooper is very pleasant as Sheila's brother Jerry Regan. Art directors Cedric Gibbons and Daniel B. Cathcart makes stars, fish, and matadors with eye-catching lighting and shadows. Every musical part has a stunning visual accompaniment. Set decorator Edwin B. Willis puts stairs and drapes of all manner behind the ladies. Choreographer Daniel Dare provides steps for ballet numbers, tap dancing, and even a Spanish style salsa number. Composer Herbert Stothart's beautiful music is really wonderful. I loved the huge musical numbers in a multitude of genres. Songs from Roger Edens, Al Shean Nacio, Herb Brown, Joseph McCarthy, Harold Adamson, Ralph Freed, Walter Donaldson, Gus Kahn, John Schonberger, Malvin Schonberger, Harry Carroll, and Edward Gallagher made super playful tracks for Ziegfeld Girl. Sound designer Douglas Shearer lets voices soar with loud and clear recordings. Costume designer Adrian must have made 100's of dresses for Ziegfeld Girl. I loved the flattering gowns, especially the star dress for Hedy Lamarr. Makeup artist Jack Dawn lets each actress shine in their own style. There is distasteful brownface during the tropical number, however. In all, Ziegfeld Girl is led by the truly daring, brave, and beautiful actresses Hedy Lamarr, Lana Turner, and Judy Garland!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/30/23

Full Review

deke p

Old old classic! GREAT CAST! EVE ARDEN. Young adorable LANA TURNER!! Wowzer HEDY LAMAR!! & More! BUSBY BERKELEY choreograph showgirls, great music. SPOILER ALERT! Tragic tearjerker ending. Saw on the television set 12.29.2021

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

kevin w

With outrageous costuming, typically over-the-top Busby Berkeley show numbers and a cast that's 3 benches deep one would expect more involvement with the story of 3 women who's lives are changed when they join the famous Ziegfeld Follies. That involvement doesn't happen, but still there's never a dull moment either. MGM knowing full well how to accurately toss pretty big kitchen sinks directly at your big head.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

The best musical movie ever made!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/26/23

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Robert Z. Leonard

Director

James Stewart

Gilbert 'Gil' Young

Judy Garland

Susan 'Sue' Gallagher

Lana Turner

Sheila 'Red'

Hedy Lamarr

Mrs. Sondra Kolter

Tony Martin

Frank Merton

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

The Great Ziegfeld may have won the Academy Award for Best Picture, and Ziegfeld Follies might be the only place to catch Judy Garland, Lucille Ball, and Lena Horne all on one bill, but it’s this middle entry in the loose trilogy that emerges as the best.

Rated: 3.5/4

Jun 12, 2022

Full Review

Elena de la Torre

Cine-Mundial

We are disappointed because the film goes under the the name of Ziegfield, and because we have seen settings and costumes before the premiere, it has not satisfied our expectations. [Full review in Spanish]

Sep 19, 2019

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Three of MGM's gorgeous stars, Judy Garland, Lana Turner and Hedy Lamarr star in this musical, which has too much melodrama but also some lavish production numbers.

Rated: B

Mar 18, 2013

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 3/5

Jul 3, 2005

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Synopsis

During the 1920s, three New York girls pursue careers performing in the iconic Ziegfeld Follies. Susan (Judy Garland) is a vaudeville performer who desires nothing more than a shot at the big time. Sheila (Lana Turner), who works as an elevator girl, is granted an audition with Flo Ziegfeld himself. And Sandra (Hedy Lamarr) draws the eye of a dance director after her husband auditions for a position in the orchestra. However, their career ambitions soon complicate their romantic relationships.

Director: Robert Z. Leonard
Screenwriter: Sonya Levien, Marguerite Roberts
Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Loew's Inc.
Production Co: Metro Goldwyn Mayer, Loew's Inc.
Genre: Musical
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 25, 1941, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 1, 2009

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